What is a cough with COVID-19?

Nearly half of patients with COVID-19 have a cough. This cough is dry, persistent and can make it hard to breathe. A dry cough does not produce mucus or phlegm.

Can a dry cough turn into a wet cough with mucus?

A wet cough helps bring up mucus from the lungs and lower airways. Sometimes a dry cough can turn into a wet cough when the infection progresses.

When to contact a health care provider?

Call your doctor if you’ve been around someone with suspected or diagnosed COVID-19 and you have a fever, cough or shortness of breath.

How is COVID-19 diagnosed?

A molecular test or swab test collects material from the back of the nose where it meets the throat. The material is examined for the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

How is mild COVID-19 treated?

Most people will have mild disease that’s treated with drinking fluids, getting extra rest, and taking over-the-counter medications for fever, headache, congestion, cough and sore throat.

What are severe signs and symptoms of COVID-19?

Severe signs and symptoms can occur about a week into the illness and include significant shortness of breath, low oxygen levels, pneumonia, abnormal blood tests, kidney failure, liver failure and hospitalization.

How is moderate-to-severe COVID-19 treated?

Most people will be in the hospital for a few days and may be on oxygen and other medications. Recovery can take a few weeks.

How is a critical case of COVID-19 treated?

Less than 5 percent will have critical disease. Care may include breathing support with a mechanical ventilator and an extracorporeal oxygenation (heart/lung) machine to keep organs working while the body fights the infection.

What is antibody testing for COVID-19?

This is a blood test that may determine if you’ve had the disease in the recent past by looking for IgG antibodies that the immune system may produce to fight the virus.

What is COVID-19?

It is a respiratory virus and disease that can have mild to severe symptoms. Most people will have mild to moderate flu-like symptoms and can self-treat at home.

How do you get COVID-19?

The SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes the COVID-19 disease is spread by droplets from coughs and sneezes, and by touching surfaces or objects that have been contaminated with the virus.

Who is at risk for developing COVID-19?

Health care workers, caregivers and family members of infected people, people with chronic diseases and the elderly are at risk for developing serious cases of COVID-19.

What is a cough with COVID-19?

Nearly half of patients with COVID-19 have a cough. This cough is dry, persistent and can make it hard to breathe. A dry cough does not produce mucus or phlegm.

Can a dry cough turn into a wet cough with mucus?

A wet cough helps bring up mucus from the lungs and lower airways. Sometimes a dry cough can turn into a wet cough when the infection progresses.

When to contact a health care provider?

Call your doctor if you’ve been around someone with suspected or diagnosed COVID-19 and you have a fever, cough or shortness of breath.

How is COVID-19 diagnosed?

A molecular test or swab test collects material from the back of the nose where it meets the throat. The material is examined for the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

How is mild COVID-19 treated?

Most people will have mild disease that’s treated with drinking fluids, getting extra rest, and taking over-the-counter medications for fever, headache, congestion, cough and sore throat.

What are severe signs and symptoms of COVID-19?

Severe signs and symptoms can occur about a week into the illness and include significant shortness of breath, low oxygen levels, pneumonia, abnormal blood tests, kidney failure, liver failure and hospitalization.

How is moderate-to-severe COVID-19 treated?

Most people will be in the hospital for a few days and may be on oxygen and other medications. Recovery can take a few weeks.

How is a critical case of COVID-19 treated?

Less than 5 percent will have critical disease. Care may include breathing support with a mechanical ventilator and an extracorporeal oxygenation (heart/lung) machine to keep organs working while the body fights the infection.

What is antibody testing for COVID-19?

This is a blood test that may determine if you’ve had the disease in the recent past by looking for IgG antibodies that the immune system may produce to fight the virus.